They brag photo after photo of how they house their animals.  In reality, they have nothing to boast.  They have dozens and dozens of obviously inappropriately small animal cages stacked one on top of the other in room after room in their city house.  Their web site fails to mention how they have been investigated and charged by bylaw enforcement for housing too many animals.  They also have been visited by Fish and Wildlife for trafficking and housing illegal exotic pets.  By The McDonald Family Rescue's  own admission they tell how many animals been confiscated from them over the past few years.

 

 

 

Any one knows that so many animals housed in such a small space, crammed together and stacked on top of each other is a prime recipe for disease and a breeding ground for contagious outbreaks.  Many bacterial infections found in caged rodents are transferable to other species.  Some are even transferable to humans.  Here is an example of how hamsters are particularly susceptible. 

 

Wet Tail (Proliferative ileitis): The most serious intestinal disease of hamsters is "wet tail." The bacterium suspected of causing this disease is called Lawsonia intracellularis, which can also cause intestinal disease in swine, dogs, ferrets, primates and other animals. Hamsters with wet tail must be immediately examined and evaluated by a veterinarian. Fluid replacement, oral antidiarrheal medication, and antibiotics will be given, along with supportive care to keep the patient warm, clean, comfortable and well nourished. Treatment is often unrewarding, and death may occur as soon as 48 hours after the onset of initial signs.

 

Salmonellosis: Several species of the bacterium, Salmonella, can cause serious intestinal disease (salmonellosis) in hamsters under certain circumstances. Salmonellosis is transmissible to and equally serious in people.

 

The above information is courtesy of

Animals Hospital - USA

 

Hamsters:   Public Health Significance:  People are susceptible to LCM virus, and experience flu-like symptoms and occasional nonsuppurative meningitis.  Past reports of zoonosis have linked human infections to exposure to infected pet hamsters.

Hamsters:  Public Health Significance: Humans ingesting Salmonella contaminated food or water experience a transient diarrhea.

References for above to entries.

 

Percy, D.E. and Barthold, S.W. Pathology of Laboratory Rodents and Rabbits. 2nd edition, Iowa State University Press, Ames, 2001.

Small Rodents, Section Four, In Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, (E.V. Hillyer, K.E. Quesenberry, eds.), W. B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia, 1997

Harkness, J.E., Wagner, J.E.  The Biology and Medicine of Rabbits and Rodents. 4th ed., Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, 1995.

 

The McDonald family allows public viewing of their animals to potential buyers, by doing so they are in fact exposing innocent people to bacteria and parasites that could in fact cause illness. 

 

In addition, as you can plainly see, the McDonalds have lined their walls with floor to ceiling bird and rodent cages.  Birds are particularly susceptible to air born diseases.  The McDonald Family Rescue's birds, housed so close together and no numerously puts all their birds at risk for infections that can be lethal within a short period of time.  

 

Aspergillosis in Birds

Veterinary & Aquatic Services Department, Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc.

 

     What is aspergillosis and what causes it?

Aspergillosis is a respiratory disease of birds caused by the fungus Aspergillus, which is found almost everywhere in the environment.

A. fumigatus is the most common species of the fungus to cause disease, although A. flavus, A. niger, and others can also cause problems. Aspergillus grows readily in warm and moist environments. The microscopic spores of the fungus become airborne, and poor ventilation, poor sanitation, dusty conditions, and close confinement increase the chance the spores will be inhaled.  

 

For an organization who claims to have only the best interest of animals in mind they sure have a way of putting profit before animal welfare.  This is not all that dissimilar to an egg farm where chickens are kept in small 2 foot by 2 foot cages, side by side, one on top of the other so as to utilize space most efficiently.  It would seem The McDonald Family Rescue  cram as many cages into their house so they can mass retail their birds. 

 

As you can see from these photos, the animals (rabbit, birds, snakes, lizards, hamsters, hedgehogs and many others) are housed in cages far too small to offer proper stimulation and environmental enrichment.  There is no way these animals could possible express their natural behavior or obtain enough mental and physical stimulation to ensure optimum health.